Magazine rocket launcher



April 1949- L. s. MACDONALD 2,468,216

MAGAZINE )ROCKET LAUNCHER Filed Jan. 17, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 J6 LEII SZII In venior fiflacdonalol April 1949- s. MACDONALD 2,468,216

MAGAZINE ROCKET LAUNCHER Filed Jan. 17, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 In 226 nior [esi'er' nijiacolonald a; By ey April 26, 1949.

L. S. MACDONALD MAGAZINE ROCKET LAUNCHER l0 Shee ts-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 17, 1946 In van for Iesier zSfMacdonczZd April 26, 1949. s. MACDONALD MAGAZINE ROCKET LAUNCHER 1O Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 17, 1946 Inventor esir tffldcdona Zci 1O Sheets-Sheet 5 Y R n mm D M cm m E am 74 u W Ap 2 a, 1949.

Filed Jan. 17, 1946 April 26, 1949. L. s. MACDONALD MAGAZINE RdcKET LAUNCHER Filed Jan." 17, 1946 '10 Sheets-Sheet 6 In we #0 r Zesfer S/Yczcdonald L. S. MACDONALD MAGAZINE ROCKET LAUNCHER 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 in 22$ Him r l esfer flflacdonaia? Filed Jan.

April 26, 1949. L. s. MACDONALD MAGAZINE ROCKET LAUNCHER 1o Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Jan. 17, 1946 9t wmEN Inventor Lesier CY/Yacaonald Patented Apr. 26, 1949 MAGAZINE aocxa'r LAUNCHER Lester s. Macdonald, Beverly, Masa, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. 1., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 17, 1946, Serial No. 641,747

Claims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for launching projectiles, and is illustrated herein as embodied in an apparatus for launching rockets from airplanes or other suitable carriers.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus of the above-mentioned character that is of desirably light, yet rugged, construction, efllcient in operation, and by the use of which a plurality of projectiles, such as rockets, may be launched in rapid succession by means controlled from a remote station.

Accordingly, there is provided a rocket launching apparatus comprising a magazine adapted to be mounted in an airplane and to hold a plurality of disposable rocket carrying tubes, a projection tube and an exhaust tube secured at opposite ends of the magazine and extending through openings in the airplane, remotely controlled indexing mechanism for moving the rocket carrying tubes successively from a loading position to a rocket launching position'in register with the projection tube and the exhaust tube, and remotely controlled firing means for firing the rockets successively after their carrier tubes have been moved into launching position. It is understood that the apparatus may, if desired, be mounted in the airplane in such a way that the lower or launching end of the magazine willproject through an opening in the floor of the airplane, and the projection tube may be mounted entirely outside the airplane, in the manner described in my prior application, Serial No. 597,921, filed June 6, 1945, now Patent No. 2,440,723, patented May 4, 1948.

The apparatus also comprises, in accordance with a feature of the invention, a rocket tube centering mechanism operatively connected to the indexing mechanism and arranged to cooperate therewith to center and hold each rocket carrying tube in its rocket launching position. In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, the. indexing mechanism ineludes a star wheel assembly comprising a pair of star wheels, which successively engage the rocket carrying tubes as they reach the bottom of the magazine, and are rotated to locate each tube in rocket launching position and to eject the empty tubes from the magazine. The previously mentioned centering mechanism comprises a pair of centering members that are actuated to swing into and out of operative position, and are provided with tube engaging faces which are,

complemental to the tube engaging faces of the star wheels. In timed relation to the rotation of the indexing mechanism to move a rocket carrying tube into launching position, the centering members are moved into operative position. in which they cooperate with the star wheels in such manner that the rocket carrying tube will 5 be held in alinement with the projection tube and the exhaust tube toinsure correct launchin of the rocket. Upon initiation of a new indexing cycle, the centering members are swung out of engagement with the tube whose rocket has been launched, to permit the empty tubejo be ejected through the open lower end of the magazine as the star wheels are rotated to move another rocket carrying tube into launching position.

The invention further provides novel means for firing the rockets successively after each rocket carrying tube has been located and centered in rocket launching position. As herein illustrated, each rocket carrying tube is provided on its outer surface with spaced contact bands electrically connected to terminals on the rocket carried by the tube. Mounted on the 'lower, or launching, end of the 'magazine is a plate of insulating material to which are secured conductors having contact elements which project through the in- 95 sulating plate and are arranged to engage the contact bands on the rocket tube as the latter is located and centered in rocket launching position. The conductors are connected in a firing circuit controlled by a firing switch in the pilot's compartment. Upon operation of the firing switch by the pilot, after a rocket carrying tube I has been located and centered in launching position, electric current will be caused to pass through the conductors and the contact elements to the contact bands on the rocket tube to fire the rocket.

These and other features of the invention will.

become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, 40 in which Fig. l is a view in side elevation of a rocket launching apparatus embodying the invention, the forward or launching end of the apparatus being shown at the right of this figure;

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the indexing, centering and firing mechanisms with which the apparatus is provided; Fig. 3 is a plan view, on line Hli ll of Figure 1, on an enlarged scale, of the lower portion of the apparatus, illustrating more particularly the centeringmechanlsm, the forward or launching end of the apparatus being shown at the left of this figure;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a variable speed drive for operating the indexing mechanism;

Fig. is a view, on an enlarged scale, of a clutch and brake control mechanism for controlling the starting and stopping of the indexing mechanism, this view showing the control mechanism in brake-applying position;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, with the control mechanism shown in clutch-engaging position;

Fig. 7 is a front end view, taken along the line VII--VII of Fig. I, of the lower portion of the apparatus, this view illustrating a rocket carrying tube centered in rocket launching position;

Fig. 8 is a rear end view of the lower portion of the apparatus, taken along the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 1. this view illustrating a rocket carrying tube centered in rocket launching position and a firing mechanism for firing the rocket in the tube;

Fig. 9 is a view in side elevation of the firing mechanism along the line IX-IX of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a sectional detail view of abortion of the firing mechanism taken along the line X--X of Fig. 9;

Figs. 11, 12 and 13 illustrate a modified form of firing means, and

Fig. 14 is a wiring diagram.

Referring now to the drawings, the illustrated rocket launching apparatus is constructed in a manner to limit the weight of the apparatus to a minimum, and comprises a magazine the frame of which consists of two side plates 20, 22 (Fig. 1) jo ned o h by a plu y of spaced, parallel rods 24 that are formed with flanges 25 and secured by bolts 26 to the inner surfaces of the side plates. The magazine is adapted to hold a plurality of rockets carried in tubes 28 which are open at both ends and which, in order further to reduce the weight of the apparatus, are preferably made of a light material, such as paper board or a plastic composition. The rocket tubes have an internal diameter such that the rockets are held relatively snugly within the tubes yet with sufiicient space between them to permit the rockets to clear the tubes when fired. After the firing of a rocket, its carrier tube is ejected through the open lower end of the magazine and drops to the floor of the airplane. Undamaged tubes may be reused, while damaged ones will be jettisoned.

To the frame member 20 is secured a cylindrical flange 30, to which is riveted a projection tube 32 that is arranged to extend through an opening in the nose, or other suitable portion of the airplane, and through which the rockets are launched. The flange 30 and the projection tube 32 have an internal diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of a rocket carrying tube, but slightly greater than the external diameter of a rocket, to permit free passage of the rocket. Similarly bolted to the lower end of the frame member 22 is a cylindrical flange 34, to which is riveted an exhaust tube 36 that is arranged to extend through another opening in the airplane and through which are exhausted the gases released by the rockets. To the inner face of each magazine frame member 20, 22 are secured two pairs of spaced uprights 38 which are separated from the frame members by spacer members 4|] (Fig. 3). In the spaces between the uprights 38 of each pair are mounted anti-friction rolls 42 (Figs. 1, 7 and 8) which guide the rocket carrying tubes in their downward movement. The rocket carrying tubes are spaced equal distances from one another and supported by blocks 44 carried by sprocket chains 46, 48 which form part of a conveyor mechanism to be de- The chains 46, 48 run in scribed hereinafter.

engagement with vertical guides 50 (Fig. 3) secured to the outer surfaces of the magazine frame members 20, 22.

The conveyer mechanism for moving the rocket tubes into launching position in registerwith the projection tube 32 and the exhaust tube 36 comprises a cross shaft 52 (Fig. 1) mounted in bearings in a bracket 54 secured to the upper end of the magazine frame member 22 and in a housing 56 mounted on the upper end of the frame member 20. The shaft 52 is geared to a planetary ear drive mechanism, to be described hereinafter, which is arranged to drive the conveyer mechanism at a low velocity at the beginning and end of an indexing cycle, and at a relatively high velocity during the principal portion of the indexing cycle, thereby insuring smooth operation of the conveyor mechanism to move the rocket tubes successively into launching position without shock. A sprocket 58 (Figs. 1 and 2), mounted on one end of the shaft 52, is connected by a chain 60 to a sprocket 62 on one end of a shaft 64 mounted in hearings in the bracket 54 and in a bearing block 66 secured to the upper end of the magazine frame member 22. The other end of the shaft 64 carries a sprocket 68 which is connected by the chain 46 to a sprocket ID on one end of a shaft 12 journaled in a bracket 14 (Fig. 8) that is secured to the lower end of the magazine frame member 22. A sprocket 16 (Fig. 2), mounted on the opposite end of the cross shaft 52, is connected by a chain 18 to a sprocket carried by a shaft 82 mounted in bearings in the upper end of the frame member 20 and in the housing 56. A second sprocket 84, mounted on the inner end of the shaft 82, is connected by the chain 46 to a sprocket 86 on the inner end of. a shaft 88 which is journaled in a bracket 90 (Figs. 3 and 7) secured to the lower end of the magazine frame member 20.

The conveyor mechanism just described is driven by a reversible electric motor 92 (Figs. 1 and 2) through a transmission comprising a vertical shaft 94 rotatably mounted in bearings in the housin 56. The lower end of the shaft 94 carries a brake 96 constituting part of a multiple diskfriction clutch and brake mechanism Whose clutch member 98 is carried by the motor shaft.

I00. The motor runs continuously and, upon engagement of the clutch 98 by operation of a switch on the instrument panel in the pilot's compartment, drives the shaft 94 at a constant speed that is transformed into a variable speed by a planetary gear drive new to be described.

Fast on the upper end of the shaft 94 is a pinion I02 (Figs. 2 and 4), which meshes with a gear I03 keyed to the lower end of a shaft I 04 mounted in a bearin in the housing 56. A worm I06 on the shaft I04 meshes with a worm gear I08 rotatably mounted on the inner end of a shaft I I 0 mounted in bearings in a housing II2 formed integral with the housing 56. A gear II 4 on the shaft IID meshes with an intermediate gear II6 carried by a stud II8 mounted in the housing H2. The intermediate gear I I6 meshes with a gear I20 formed on one end of a crank shaft I22 mounted in a bearing in the housing I I2 andhaving at its opposite end a crank arm I24 which is connected by a rod I26 to a spider I 28 having a hub member I 30 that is rotatably mounted on the inner end of the shaft I I 0. The spider I28 carries studs I32 on which are rotatably mounted planetary pinions I34 meshing with a sun gear I36 fast on the shaft H0 and also with a ring gear I38 formed integral with the worm gear I08. Fast on tween the centers of two adjacent tubes.

8 .be explained hereinafter,

the outer end of the shaft III is a gear I48 which meshes with a gear I42 on the risht-handend of the sprocket shaft 52. The shaft 94v rotates the worm shaft I84 at a constant speed which, through the oscillating motion of the spider I28, is transformed into a variable speed, as a result of which the output shaft I I8 rotates the sprocket shaft 52 at varying speeds to operate the 'conveyer mechanism smoothly and with a minimum of shock.

The starting and stopping of the driving mech-' anism is controlled by a clutch and brake con-' trol mechanism which operates to disengage the clutch and apply the brake automatically to bring the driving mechanism to a stop upon completion of an operating cycle to move therocket tubes a distance substantially equal to the spacingTlfi; clutch and brake mechanism is actuated by a solenoid I44 (Figs. 2, and 8) that is mounted on the housing 58 and is energized by operation of an indexing switch I48 (Fig. 14) in the pilot's compartment. The solenoid plunger .I4'8 .(Figs. 2, 5 and 6) is connected to a tripping latch I58 havinS a hook I52 arranged to engage a projection I53 of a link I54 pivotally connected by a pin I58 to one arm of a clutch shifting bell-crank'lever I58 pivoted on a stud I88 carried by a ing I52 on the housing 56. The bell crank I58 has a fork I84, the ends of which carry blocks I88 which engage in an annular groove I88 of a clutch sleeve I18 mounted on the shaft 84. The opposite end of the link I54 is pivotally connected by a pin I12 to one end of a. link is pivoted at I18 to the lower, bifurcated portion I18 of one arm of a bell crank I88 pivoted at I82 on a bracket I84 secured to the housing 58. The other arm of the bell crank I88 carries a pin I88 on which is mounted a roll I88 arranged to ride on the periphery of a cam I88 mounted on the outer end of the shaft 82 and provided with a, projection I9I and two depressions I92 and I94, in either of which the roll I88 is adapted to engage when the shaft 82 comes to a stop, depending upon the direction of rotation of the motor as will to hold the brake firmly applied at the conclusion of an indexing cycle.

Referring to Figs. brake control mechanism just described operates as follows: With the power on and the motor running, when the pilot closes the indexing switch, the solenoid I44" is energized and draws the latch I58 down. As the latch is moved down, its hook I52 acts on the projection I53 of the link I54 and trips the link, whereupon the bell crank I58 is actuated by a torsion spring I95 mounted on the pivot stud I88 to swing in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 6, to move the sleeve I18 downward so as to release the brake an engage the clutch. Tripping of the link I54 also breaks the toggle formed by the links I54, I14, against the tension of a spring I98 which tends at all times to maintain the toggle in its straightened position, the spring being connected at one end 'to a pin I98 carried by the link I54 and at its opposite end to a pin 288 carried by the bell crank I58. The toggle being broken, the projection I8I of the cam I98 carried by the sprocket shaft 82 is permitted to move past the cam roll I88 carried by the bell crank I88, the roll thereafter riding in contact with the low portion of the cam during a revolution of the shaft 82. Near the end of a revolution of the shaft 82, the cam roll again engages the projection I9I of the cam and then drops into the depression I82 of the cam as the 2, 5 and 6, the clutch and sbaft82 comes to rest. Engagement of the roll I88 with the projection I 9| of. the camcauses the bell crank I88 to swing in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 5. By this'time the toggle will have been straightened by the spring I98, andthe bell crank I58 is moved by 'the bell crank I88, through the straightened toggle, in a clockwise direction to disengage the clutch'and apply the brake. The brake will thereafter be held firmly applied and any further rotation of the shaft 82 will be positively prevented because the bell crank I88, being rigidly connected by the straightened toggle with the bell crank I58, which is now in its extreme brake-applyingposition, cannot swing-in a clockwise direction to permit the projection I8I of the'cam to move past the camroll.

It should be noted that the toggle I54, I14 is straightened by the spring I98 soon after the initiation of an indexing cycle, and that the brake is applied to bring the indexing mechanism to rest, as previously explained, at the end of an I14 the other end of which.

indexing cycle, regardless of the length of time the operator presses the indexing switch and of the position of the tripping latch I58. However, the indexing mechanism cannot be operated to move another rocket carrying tube into launching position unless the operator first releases the indexing switch to allow the latch I58 to return to its normal position. For controlling the latch 158 the following mechanism is provided: The latch has connected thereto a rod 282 (Fig; 6) which extends through a pin 284 mounted in the lowerends of the bifurcated portion I18 of the bell crank I88, the rod having threaded on itsouter end a nut 285. A compression spring 288 is mounted on the rod 282 between a shoulder onthe rod and the pin 284. Normally, when the pilot releases the indexing switch immediately after energization of the solenoid I44, the latch I58 will be returned to its elevated position before the toggle I54, I14 hasbeen straightened by the spring I98. However, if the pilot continues to press the indwiing switch, the latch I58 will be held in its .lowered position and, as the toggle is straightened, the projection I53 of the link I54 will cam the corner 281 of the latch I58 and cause the latch and the rod 282 to move to the right of Fig. 6, compressing the spring 288. In this position of the parts, the latch cannot trip the link I54 to start another indexing cycle. However, as soon as the pilot releases the indexing switch, the latch I58 will be moved upward, the spring 288 permitting the latch to yield sufliciently to permit the inclined face of the hook I52 of the latch to ride over the projection I53 of the link I54 until the shoulder on the latch snaps over the projection I53, so that the latch will again be in position to trip the link I54 to initiate an indexing cycle upon the next operation of the indexing switch.

As previously stated, the motor 92 is reversible and is operated in one direction to move the rocket carrying tubes downward into launching position and in the opposite direction to move the tubes upward, as when it is desired to re- .plenish a partially loaded magazine from which tion, after which another tube is inserted and the procedure repeated until the magazine is fully loaded, with the lowermost tube in the launching position. its empty carrying tube ejected from the magazine, the tube next above it is indexed downward into launching position. If, after firing a number of rockets, it is desired to replenish the magazine, it is necessary first to move the rocket carrying tubes up until the uppermost tube is at the upper end of the magazine, since otherwise the remaining tubes would magazine by the successive operations of the indexing mechanism.

To reverse the operation of the indexing mechanism for replenishing the magazine, the motor switch is first turned on to shut off the power. With the motor at rest, the pilot presses a reversing switch 209 (Fig. 14) to reverse the'motor.

Thereafter, successive operation of the switch 208 will operate the indexing mechanism to move the tubes upward one at a time until the uppermost tube is at the extreme upper end of the magazine. The motor must then be again reversed and, upon operation of the switch 288, the

indexing mechanism will be operated to move the tubes downward a distance equal to the spacing between thecenters of two adjacent tubes. As the tubes are thus moved downward succes sively, a rocket carrying tube is inserted in the space next above the uppermost tube and the operation is repeated until'the magazine is again full.

During the operation of the indexing mechanism to move the tubes upward, the clutch and brake control mechanism, above described, operates in the same manner as during'the indexing of the tubes downward, the cam roll I88 (Figs. and 6) engaging the depression I84 of the cam I90 at the end of an'indexing cycle. To insure that the indexing mechanism will be stopped during the loading operation, after moving the tubes upward a distance equal to the spacing between the centers of two adjacent tubes, in the same manner as during operation of the indexing mechanism to move the tubes downward into rocket launching position, there is provided a lost motion connection comprising a recess 2H) in the loosely mounted cam I90 and a projection 2 on a cam driver 2l2 fast on the shaft 82. With the parts in the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6, when the shaft 82 begins to rotate in a counterclockwise direction to move the tubes upward, the cam driver 2|2 will immediately rotate with the shaft, while the cam I90 will effect a lost motion until the projection 2 on the cam driver engages the right-hand extremity of the recess H0 in the cam, the angular extent of the lost motion being substantially equal to the angular distance between the centers of the depressions I92 and I94 in the cam.

As the rocket carrying tubes are moved successively downward, the lowermost tube is engaged and indexed into launching position by a pair of star wheels 2! (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8) mounted on the opposite ends of a shaft 2l6 journaled in brackets 2? (Fig. 3) secured to the lower end portions of the magazine frame members and 22. The shaft 2"; is operatively connected to the conveyer mechanism by means comprising a worm gear 220 (Figs. 2 and 8) that is fast on one end of the shaft and meshes with a worm 222 on a shaft 224 journaled in a bearing block 226 integral with the bracket 14, the inner end of the shaft 224 having fast thereon a bevel As each rocket is fired and be ejected from thebracket 90.

pinion 228 which meshes with a bevel gear 230 on the sprocket shaft 12. ,As the shaft 12 is rotated by the sprocket chain 46, the rotation of the shaft is transmittedto the shaft 2I6 to rotate the star wheels during each indexing cycle to cause them to move the tube supported by their upper tube-engaging faces into launching position. Upon initiation of a new indexing cycle, after the firing of the rocket from the tube located in the launching position, to move another rocket carrying tube into launching position, the star wheels are again rotated 90 to elect the empty tube through the open lower end of the magazine andto move the tube next above it into launching position.

To insure that each tube will be properly centered and held in register with, the projection tube 32 and the exhaust tube 36, there is provided a centering mechanism which is operatively connected to the indexing mechanism and actuated thereby near the end of an indexing cycle to engage the rocket tubeand cooperate with the star wheels 214 in centering and holdin the tube in the launching position until after the rocket carried by that'tube has been fired, and thereafteragain actuated, at the beginning of the next cycle, to release the empty tube so it may be ejected from the magazine by the star wheels. Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 7, the outer end of the sprocket shaft 88 has fixed thereto a cam 232 provided witha cam groove 234 which is engaged by a roll 2 36 mounted on one end of a two-arm lever 238 fulcrurned at 248 on the The opposite end of thelever 238 is pivotally connected by a link 242 to a bar 244 mounted for longitudinal reciprocating movement in guideways 246 secured to the lower end portions of the magazine frame members 20 and 22. As shown in Fig. 3, the bar 244 is made in two parts, which are joined together in threaded relation,,a not 241 being provided for varying the length of the bar. -The bar 244 is provided at its opposite ends with rack teeth 248 which mesh with teeth 249 formed on the upper end portions of a pair of vertical centering members 250 which are mounted on pintles 252 journaled in brackets 254 secured to the inner surfaces of the lower end portions of the magazine frame members 20, 22. In timed relation to the rotation of the sprocket shaft 88 to move a rocket carrying tube into launching position, the cam 232 on the shaft acts through lever 238 and link 242 to move the rack bar 244 toward the right of Fig. 3, thereby causing the centering members 250 to be rotated 90 in a clockwise direction from their inoperative positions, indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 3, to their oper ative positions, indicated by the full lines in the same figure, until their concave edge faces 256 (Fig. 2) engage the outer surface of the rocket caryying tube. Since the centering members are positively located, the star wheels are mounted on the shaft 2; with a limited amount of play in order to permit their tube-engaging faces to adjust themselves to the curvature of the outer surface of the rocket carrying tube after the tube has been engaged by the centering members, thereby insuring perfect alinement between the axes of the rocket carrying tubes and of the projection tube to insure correct firing of the rockets through the projection tube.

As the indexing mechanism comes to rest at the end of an indexing cycle and a rocket carrying tube has been centered in launching position, the outer surface of the tube engages a microswitch 258 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) carried by a bracket 268 escured to one of the brackets 254 and closes the microswltch to light a tell-tale lamp 259 (Fig. 14) in the pilots compartment, thus indicating the presence of a rocket. in position to be fired. At the same time a normally open microswitch 262 (Fig. 8), mounted on the bracket 14 and connected in the firing circuit, is closed by a cam 264 fixed to the outer end of the sprocket shaft 12. Closing of the microswitch 262 energizes a relay 26l (Fig. 14) and closes a switch 263 connected in the circuit controlling a solenoid 268 which operates a firing mechanism to be described presently. By the closing of this circuit the firing mechanism is put in readiness to be operated to fire a rocket when the pilot closes a firing switch 269. This arrangement insures that no rocket can be fired unless its carrying tube is correctly positioned in register with the projection and exhaust tubes, 4

Upon operation of the indexing switch by the pilot, after the firing of a rocket, to initiate a new indexing cycle, the rack bar 2" is'moved to the left of Fig. -3, and the centering members 258 are rotated 90 in a counterclockwise direction to the broken line position shown in that figure, out of engagement with the empty tube, thus permitting the star wheels 2 to eject this tube and move another rocket carrying tube into launching position. At the same time the micro- -switch 262 is again opened thus opening the firing circuit to prevent the firing of the rocket carried by the tube being moved into launching position until that tube has been correctly cated and centered in register with the projection tube in the manner explained above.

For firing the rockets there is provided a firing mechanism generally indicated at F in Figs.

1, 2, '8 and 9. The firing mechanism is mounted I on a casting 266 supported on the exhaust tube flange 34. The casting supports the solenoid 268 which, when energized by the operation of the firing switch 269 (Fig. 14) located on the instrument panel, actuates, through the inter mediary of means to be described, a pair of contact fingers 218 (Figs. 2, 8 and 9), causing them to engage a pair of contact members 212 (Fig. 8) on the rear end of each rocket. The contact members are connected by wires 214 (Fig. 9) to an electric squib 216 in the rear end of the rocket. Just prior to engaging the contact members 212, the contact fingers 218 are energized and, upon engaging the contact members gear segments 284 formed on the lower ends of segment arms 286, likewise made of a non-conductive material and fast on the opposite ends of a rockshaft 288 mounted in hearings in the casting 266. Each segment arm 286 has secured thereto one end of a spring 289, the opposite end of which is secured to the casting 266. Each gear 282 has a projection 298 extending downwardbetween inwardly turned ears 292 on a contact blade 294 pinned to the shaft 218. In the projection 298 of each gear 282 is formed a socket in which is mounted a compression spring 296, interposed between the closed end of the socket and the inner face of the lower end portion of the corresponding contact blade 298. Referring to Fig. 9, in which the parts are shown in inoperative position, when the shaft 288 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction by means shortly to be described, the segment arms 286 are rocked in the same direction and rotate the gears 282 in a clockwise direction and, through the pressure of the springs 296, cause the con tact blades 298 and the shafts 218 to rotate in the same direction to move the contact fingers 218 into engagement with the contact members 212 on the rocket.

The means for rocking the shaft 288 and the segment arms 286 comprise a bell-crank lever 298 (Figs. 2 and 9) pivoted at 289 on the castmg 266 and having a downwardly extending arm 388 that is connected to the plunger 382 of the solenoid 268. The lower end of the lever arm 388 is arranged to engage the hooked end of a latch 388 pivotally connected at its opposite end to the lower bifurcated end portion of a downwardly extending block 886 rigidly mounted on the shaft 288. The bell-crank lever 288'also has a horizontal arm 388 pivotally connected to the bifurcated upper end portion of a lever 3l8, a spring 3l2 being stretched between this bifurcated portion of the lever and a lug on the lever arm 388. The lower end portion or the lever M8 is provided with a shoulder which is normally engaged by one arm 3MB of a three-arm lever rigidly mounted on a transverse rockshaft 1H6 mounted in hearings in the casting 266. A forwardly extending arm 3|8 of the three-arm lever has connected thereto one end of a spring 828, the other end of which is connected to a pin 322 on the casting 266. The three-arm lever also has an upwardly extending arm 329, the upper end of which is in engagement with the heel portion 326 of a tumbler 328 pivoted at .829 on the casting 266 and having a toe portion 838 in engagement with the lower end portion of the lever 3l8. Fast on the opposite ends of the'shaft 316 are downwardly extending pawls 882 normally in engagement with shoulders on the contact blades 298.

When the solenoid 268 is energized by operation of the firing switch, the bell crank 296 is actuated by the solenoid plunger 882 first to swing in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 2, and the lever 3| 8 is moved downward to depress the arm 3|8 of the three-arm lever on the shaft 3H5, causing this lever and the shaft to rock in a counterclockwise direction to disengage the pawls 332 from the contact blades 292. The bell crank 298 thereafter actuates the latch 388 to rock the shaft 288 and the segment arms 286 in a clockwise direction, to cause the contact fingers 218 to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction to engage the contact members 212 on the rocket.

As shown in Fig. 9, a small amount of space is provided between the lower end of the lever arm 388 and the hooked end of the latch 388 to provide lost motion of the bell crank 298 in order to compensate for the interval between the release of the pawls 332 and the actuation of the latch 386. As the arm 3M oi. the tliree arm lever is depressed and the lever rocks counter clockwise, its arm 328 actuates the tumbler 828 to swing in a clockwise direction, as seen in. Fig. 2, and to cause the lever iiii to swing in the same direction out of engagement with the arm 858 of the three-arm lever. When the lever arm 388 begins to pull the latch 888 to the left ill of Fig. 2, the shaft 286 and the segment arms 286 are rocked in a clockwise direction to rotate the contact fingers 210 in the counterclockwise direction into engagement with the contact members 272 on the rocket. The latch 3114 contlnues to move until a downwardly projecting lug 33d on the latch engages an adjustable stop screw 336 mounted in the casting 266, whereupon the latch swings in a counterclockwise direction about its pivotal connection with the block 306, out of engagement with the lever arm 300. The latch is returned to its normal position by a spring 338 attached at one end to the latch and at its opposite end to the block 306.

Secured to the opposite sides of the casting 266 are plates 3 W (Figs. 1, 8 and 9) made of a nonconductive material. Each plate 340 has fastened to its inner face by a screw 342 one end of a leaf spring t lt, the opposite end of which carries a contact 34W extending through the plate. Electric wires ii ill connected to the screws 3M carry current from a suitable source of power (not shown) to the springs 3M and the contacts 3%. Near the end of the clockwise rotation of the contact blades 294, as seen in Fig. 9, to move the fingers 210 into operative position, the contact blades engage the contacts 346 and energize the fingers to fire the rocket in the manner described above. The fingers 21D engage the contact members ".212 on the rocket yieldingly, due to the springs 21% which permit them to adjust themselves individually to any possible, variations in the spacing of the contact members 212. Immediately alter engaging the contact members on the rocket, the fingers 210 are retracted into a recess in the exhaust tube flange 34 by the springs 289 which actuate the segment arms 286, and at the same time the pawls 382 engage the shoulders on the contact blades 29d, thereby locking the contact blades against further rotation in a clockwise direction and insuring that the fingers 210 will be held out of the blast from the rocket.

An alternative arrangement is provided, in accordance with the invention, which may be used in place 01 the firing mechanism previously described for firing the rockets successively. Referring to Figs. 11., 12 and 13, a plate 350 of insulating material is secured by means of clamps 352 to the lowermost pair of spacer rods 2t. Each rocket carrying tube till is provided with two spaced contact bands mounted on the end of the tube nearest the firing end of the magazine. Each contact band Z-lllt is covered with a layer 356 protective material such as cellophane or the like. The leads ll'l l from the squib N6 are attached to the inner ends of a pair of rivets 3%, 366 on the rear end of the rocket. To the outer end of the rivet 3th is connected a ground wire 362. which is also connected to a rivet 36 3 on the rocket flange. To the outer end of the rivet 3% is connected 2. wire 366, which is also connected to a metal strip 368 riveted to the inner wall of each rocket tube 28 and to one of the contact bands 3%. The strip 368 is insulated from the rocket by a layer of suitable insulating material. Riveted to the opposite inner wall of the rocket tube and to the other contact band 35d is a metal strip Hill which serves as the ground conductor. To the insulating plate 350 are fixed, as by screws 3372, two spaced leaf springs 37 3, which are provided at their upper ends with contact elements all; that project through the plate 356 and into the path or the rocket carrying tubes as the tubes are successively moved into rocket launching position. To the terminals 372 are protective layer connected wires 318, one of which is connected to the microswitch 262 (Fig. 8) and the other to the firing switch 269 (Fig. 14) on the instrument pane The above-described mechanism operates as follows: Assuming a rocket carrying tube 28 to have been located and centered in launching positlon by the star wheels 2" and the centering members 250 (Fig. 3), as previously explained, engagement of the tube 28 with the microswitch 258 will have lighted the "tell-tale lamp 259 (Fig. 14) in the pilot's compartment to indicate the presence of a rocket in position to be fired, and the microswltch 262 (Fig. 8) will have been closed to complete the firing circuit.- As the tube 28 arrives in rocket launching position, the contact elements 356 and engage the contact bands 354 on the tube. As soon as the pilot operates the firing switch, electric current is caused to pass through the contact bands to ignite the squib 216 and set off the secondary charge inthe rear end of the rocket, which, in turn, sets off the propellant charge to launch the rocket.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An apparatus for launching projectiles having, in combination with a magazine supporting a plurality of projectile carrying tubes, at projec tion tube and an exhaust tube both connected to said magazine, remotely controlled indexing means for intermittently moving said projectile carrying tubes from a loading position in the magazine to a firing position in register with said projection tube, centering means, including tube locking members, operatively connected to said indexing means and actuated in timed relation to the operation thereof to position and hold 40 each projectile carrying tube in alinement with said projection tube and exhaust tubes, separate- 1y controlled firing means for firing each projectile, and connections between said firing means and said indexing means arranged to render the flring means operable to fire a rocket only after its carrying tube has been correctly positioned by the centering means.

2. An apparatus for launching projectiles comprising, in combination, a magazine, a plurality of projectile carrying tubes, a. projection tube and an exhaust tube both connected to said magazine, remotely controlled indexing means for intermittently rotating said projectile carrying tubes into a firing position in register with the projection and exhaust tubes, centering means operatively connected to said indexing means and engaging the opposite ends of each projectile carrying tube to locate and hold it in alinement with the projection and exhaust tubes, remote, operator-controlled firingmeans operable to fire each projectile after its carrying tube has been correctly positioned by said centering means, said centering means. being constructed and arranged to move independently of each other to accommodate themselves to the periphery of each projectile carrying tube.

3. An apparatus for launching projectiles comprising, in combination, a magazlne, a plurality of projectile carrying tubes, 9. projection tube connected to said magazine, remotely controlled indexing means operated intermittently to move one of said projectile carrying tubes from a loading position in the magazine to a firing position in register with said projection tube, and thereafter to eject from the magazine the tube whose 315 (Fig. 12) pierce through the.

.13 projectile has been discharged and to move the next projectile carrying tube into firing position. centering means operatively connected to said indexing means, driving means for operating said indexing -means, and means actuated by said driving means to move said centering means successively into engagement with a projectile carrying tube at the end of one operating cycle of the driving means and out of engagement with said tubeat the beginning of a succeeding operating cycle of said driving means.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, in which the means acting to move the tube centering means into and out of engagement with a projectile carrying tube comprise a cam associated with the driving means, a reciprocating member coacting with said centering means, a lever connecting said reciprocating member to said cam, a roll carried by said lever and cooperating with said cam, said reciprocating member being operated by the cam at the end of an operating cycle of the driving'means to move in one direction to move'the centering means into tube engaging and centering position, and again operated at the beginning of a. succeeding operating cycle of the driving means to move in the opposite direction to move the centering means out of engagement with the tube to permit the tube to be ejected from the magazine after the firing of the projectile.

5. An apparatus for launching projectiles comprising, in combination, a magazine, a plurality of projectile carrying tubes, a projection tube connected to said magazine, indexing means for intermittently moving said projectile carrying tubes from a loading position in the magazine to a firing position in register with said projection tube or vice versa, centering means operatively connected to said indexing means, driving means for operating said tube indexing and tube centering means, starting and stopping means acting automatically at the end of an operating cycle of the driving means to cause the driving means to come to a stop after operating the indexing means to move the projectile. carrying tubes a predetermined distance in either direction, and a lost motion connection in said starting and stopping means for insuring that the tubes will be stopped in the same relative positions when moved to loading position as when they are moved to firing position. '6. An apparatus for launching projectiles com prising, in combination, a magazine, a plurality of projectile carrying tubes, 8. projection tube and an exhaust tube both connected to'said magazine, indexing means for intermittently moving said projectile carrying tubes from a loading position in the magazine to a firing position ,in register with said projection and exhaust tubes and for ejecting them from the magazine, centering means coacting with said indexing means to locate and hold each projectile carrying tube in said firing position, driving means for operating said tube indexing and tube centering means, remote control electric means for firing the projectiles successively through said projection tube, and means operated in timed relation to the operation of said tube indexing and centering means to prevent operation of said firing means until the completion of an operating cycle of said driving means, thereby preventing operation of the firing of means to fire a projectile until its carrying tube has been located and centered in the firing position.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, in whichthe means for controlling the operation of the firing means comprises a firing circuit, a switch controlling said circuit, a member associated with the tube indexing means and actuated successively to engage said switch at the end of one operating cycle of the driving means, to close the firing circuit, and to be disengaged from said switch, at the beginning of a succeeding operating cycle of the driving means, to open the firing circuit, thereby preventing operation of the firing means to fire a projectile except when projectile carrying tube is in proper firing position relative to the projection and exhaust tubes.

8. An apparatus for launching projectiles comprising, in combination, a magazine, a plurality of projectile carrying tubes, a projection tube connected to said magazine, means for intermittently moving said projectile carrying tubes to a firing position in register with said projec tion tube, spaced contact elements on the magazine constituting the terminals of an electric circuit, remote control means for energizing said contact elements, and means connecting the contact elements to a projectile and operative, upon energization of .the contact elements, to ignite the firing charge in the projectile.

9. An apparatus for launching projectiles comprising, in combination, a magazine, a plurality of projectile carrying tubes, a projection tube and an exhaust tube both connected to said magazine, indexing means for intermittently moving said projectile carrying tubes to a firing position in register with said projection and exhaust tubes, centering means operatively connected to said indexing means and coacting therewith to center said projectile carrying tubes successively relatively to said projection and exhaust tubes, spaced contact elements on. the magazine constituting the terminals of an electric circuit, remote control means efiective only after the said centering means have correctly positioned each projectile carrying tube in register with the projection and exhaust tubes to said con tact elements, and means movable, upon operation of said remote control means, to engage the projectile and cause the firing charge in the projectile to be ignited.

10. An apparatus for launching projectiles comprising, in combination, a magazine, a plurality of projectile carrying tubes, a projection tube and an exhaust tube both connected to said magazine, means for intermittently moving said projectile carrying tubes to a firing position in register with said projection and exhaust tubes, means for centering and locking each projectile carrying tube in said firing position, remote control means operable to fire a projectile only after its car'ryingtube has been correctly positioned :"and locked by said centering means, spaced conductors on the magazine, spaced ccntact bands on each projectile carrying tube, means electrically connecting said contact bands on each tube with the projectile carried thereby, and members carried by said conductors and adapted to engage said contact bands on each projectile carrying tube as the tube is located in "the firing position by the centering means, said. members being operative, upon operation or said remote control firing'means, to ignite the firing charge in the projectile.

LESTER S. MACDONALD.

(References on iiolicwing page) ma xamnwcms 0mm) The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

" UNITED SIFA'IES PATENTS,

Number Name Date McCullough Nov. 21, 1893 Tumbull Apr. 16, 1901 Number Name Date 7 Davis Aug. 25, 1914 McManus July 16, 1918 Sutton et a1. Aug. 12,1924 Swenson' -1--- Oct. 18,1936 Gebeau Oct. 3, 1944 Chandler July 10, 19455 

